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Sri Lanka violated human rights last year as it dealt a final blow to Tamil Tiger insurgents and clamped down on media freedom, the US State Department said Thursday.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has Called on the government of Sri Lanka to end its harassment of journalists and activists.

Sri Lanka has stepped up efforts to resettle the civilians displaced by a decades-long ethnic conflict, with 182,005 IDPs settled at the beginning of this month.

Sarath Fonseka will face two courts-martial, both staffed by three major-generals with a rear admiral serving as judge.

Sri Lanka’s military Thursday announced court martial proceedings against its former chief Sarath Fonseka for engaging in politics while in uniform and violating military procurement laws.

Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Iran’s human rights record “degenerated” with a crackdown after its disputed June election while Sri Lanka and Tamil Tigers committed abuses against …

Iran’s human rights record “degenerated” with a crackdown after its disputed June election while Sri Lanka and Tamil Tigers committed abuses against civilians last year, the United States said on Thursday.

Mar 11, Colombo: Sri Lankan government has organized a conference to educate the country’s work force on the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma development plan.

Mar, 11: Colombo: The G-15, group of developing countries has considered offering its chairmanship to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government Media Unit said today.

Mar 11, Colombo: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University of Colombo for establishing a Visiting Chair in Social Sciences.

Mar 11, Kelaniya: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that his primary goal is to bestow a promising country to the future generation that is equipped with the qualifications to compete in the international arena.

Source: IRIN The spread of Dengue fever has eased in Sri Lanka’s conflict-affected north, but health officials warn continued vigilance is necessary.

Mar 11, Colombo: The 118-member international organization of non-aligned states, Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has expressed concerns over the move by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice on accountability issues on Sri Lanka.

Mar 11. Colombo: Sri Lanka’s former Army Commander and defeated presidential candidate General (Retired) Sarath Fonseka is to be produced before a court martial on March 16 and 17.

Mumbai, Mar 11: Dialog Telekom, Sri Lanka’s largest mobile carrier with over six million subscriber base, has adopted Internet Radio service called Music Station, built on Geodesic’s Mundu Radio platform for its subscribers.

(Lanka-e-News, March 11, 2010, 7.00PM) There are reports that the UPFA leadership is anxious and has need to give precedence and pride of place to JHU Champika Ranawake over the NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa who are both…

Colombo, Mar 11 (PTI) Sri Lanka has stepped up efforts to resettle the civilians displaced by a decades-long ethnic conflict, with 182,005 IDPs settled at the beginning of this month.

Sri Lanka’s military Thursday announced court martial proceedings against its former chief Sarath Fonseka for engaging in politics while in uniform and violating military procurement laws.

Sri Lanka will begin court-martial proceedings next week against its former army chief and defeated presidential candidate on seven charges including engaging in politics while in uniform, a military spokesman said Thursday.

The end of Sri Lanka’s long-running civil war has injected fresh life into its tourism industry‚ bringing rising confidence and ambitious promotions.

(Lanka-e-News, March 11, 2010, 5.25PM) The Democratic National Front stated that after the victory of the DNF at the upcoming General elections, it will establish an interim administration for three years together with…

Commenting on the United Nations report that UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon’s appointed experts will establish standards for Sri Lanka’s accountability concerning “possible breaches of international humanitarian law…,” Professor Francis A. Boyle of University of Illinois College of Law said, “[t]his language of “international humanitarian law” means that the United Nations will [...]

Election law violations and violence are on the rise, police said. In one of the latest incidents, former UNP MP for Ratnapura and UNF general election candidate Dunesh Gankanda has been arrested on the charge of assaulting…

The Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has expressed concerns over moves by UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon to appoint a panel of experts to advice on accountability issues on Sri Lanka.

The Kalpitiya police seized 40 kg of herion in the early hours of today from Chilaw, the largest ever herion haul to be nabbed in Sri Lanka, police said. The value of the heroin is an estimated Rs….

Customs officials yesterday handed over a consignment of 4.2 million cigarettes seized in February to Ceylon Tobacco Company to be destroyed at the Puttalam cement factory.

The electoral system would definitely be reformed after the forthcoming general election, SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the media in Colombo yesterday.

COLOMBO – Six weeks ago Sri Lankan political writer and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda went missing, and his fate has raised further concerns about the island's culture of violence against the media.

Two Court Martials will be held on March 16th and 17th for seven charges against Gen Fonseka-Military Spokesman-JNW

On recommendations of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has appointed two Courts Martial to try former Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Sarath…

China has agreed to lend Sri Lanka nearly $200 million to build a second international airport in what many are calling an attempt to gain greater influence in the island.

Mar 11, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris says that the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has violated the basic principles of the United Nations by proposing to appoint a panel of consultation on Sri Lanka.

Mar 11, Colombo: Sri Lankan Attorney General Mohan Peiris has told a delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Wednesday (10) that he was prepared to offer protection to any journalist who returns to the country from exile.

Mar 11, Colombo: A Sri Lankan woman was among the ten women from around the globe honored for their exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and advancement by the United States Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday.

Three Maj Generals Weerathunga, Jayathilake & Wijethunga appointed to Court Martial panel of Gen Fonseka, by President-Mil official-JNW

(Lanka-e-News 11.March.2010 11.35AM)The salaries collected by a Minister of the Cabinet is Rs. 38 lakhs per year , but some of them have spent as much as Rs. 300 million to display …

“This is extremely dangerous and irresponsible in a country where journalists and activists have often been threatened and killed,” he said. Human Rights Watch said on March 4, the directors of Sri Lankan organisations, the Centre for Policy Alternatives and Transparency International Sri Lanka, wrote a joint letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressing their concern [...]

COLOMBO, March 11 (Reuters) - The Sri Lanka rupee hit a one-year high on Thursday as a state bank, through which the central bank directs the market, reduced its dollar trading band, currency dealers said. The rupee hit 113.95/114.05 in early trade, its highest since March 24 last year, Reuters data shows. The dollar trading [...]

Mar 11, Colombo: General Secretary of Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party, Tissa Attanayake has written to the Cabinet Secretary requesting the removal of Ministers Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake from their portfolios as they were no longer members of the parliament.

Mar 11, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris says that the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has violated the basic principles of the United Nations by proposing to appoint a panel of consultation on Sri Lanka.

Tourist arrivals up 67.7% to 57,300 in February from 34,169 in Feb last year; up from 50,757 in January-Tourism Development Authority-JNW

Commenting on the United Nations report that UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon’s appointed experts will establish standards for Sri Lanka’s accountability concerning “possible breaches of international humanitarian law…,” Professor Francis A. Boyle of University of Illinois College of Law said, “[t]his language of “international humanitarian law” means that the United Nations will be getting [...]

(Lanka-e-News 11.March.2010 8.50AM) Following the recent cross over of Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake from the UNP to the Govt. party , the two Parliamentary vacancies which arose thereby was filled by…

(Lanka-e-News 11.March.2010 8.50AM) Four Senior Secretaries of Ministries are to fly to Brussels next Monday for discussions with a view to restoring cordiality and defusing …

(Lanka-e-News 11.March.2010 8.50AM) The Chief Organizer and Colombo District candidate, Attorney at Law Shiral Lakthileke was summoned …

The United Nations is setting up mobile health clinics and distributing hygiene packs and maternity kits to women and children returning home to former conflict zones in northern Sri Lanka.

The country s tourism industry will take off quickly as it shows improvements in tourist arrivals.
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It will warm the cockles of many hearts to hear that India`s Upper House has overwhelmingly passed a..

The demand for Jaipur foot is fast growing in foreign countries. Around 1,500 foot have been demanded by Sri Lanka and Senegal in Africa.

(Lanka-e-News 10.March.2010 11.50PM) A Line of Credit Agreement for US$ 67.4 million was signed between Government of Sri Lanka…

Jaffna Technical College Students Union (JTCSU) raised accusation against Yogarajan, their principal and President Mahinda Rajapakse’s Alliance candidate in the parliamentary election, for compelling them to campaign for Mahinda Rajapakse’s Alliance. Yogarajan had welcomed Namal Rajapakse, President Mahinda Rajapakse’s eldest son and his ‘Blue Warriors’ group accompanying him when they arrived in Jaffna Tuesday to [...]

After abetting a military defeat and subsequently blessing a political defeat, the coterie of countries propping up Sri Lankan state is now bent upon enacting a third Mu’l’livaaykkaal, by bringing in a ‘development defeat’ of Eezham Tamils through handing over development management to the Sinhalese, said a concerned group of diaspora Tamils who recently had [...]

China has completed arrangements through its funding arm, Exim Bank, to provide $290m in concessionary development loans to Sri Lanka, Reuters reported. $190m of the loan is to develop a second airport in Matara and the other $100m is to improve the railways. China was the largest foreign funding source for Sri Lanka in [...]

British Permanent Under Secretary for Foreign affairs, Sir Peter Ricketts, arrived in Colombo Wednesday early morning on a two day visit, Colombo media reported. He immediately called on Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

China has agreed to lend $290mn to Sri Lanka for a new airport and to revive the country’s railway network, the island nation’s foreign ministry said yesterday.

Permanent Under-Secretary of the British Foreign office, Peter Rickett, left, shakes hands with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign affairs Rohitha Bogollagama during a two-day visit in Colombo yesterday.

COLOMBO: India and Sri Lanka on Wednesday signed a Line of Credit agreement for $67.4 million to fund the second phase of upgradation of the Southern Railway Line from Colombo to Matara.

Retired Major General Sarath will be tried over five charges under Army Act at a court martial within next few days, Military spokesman, Major General Prasad Amarasinghe told media Monday. He added that the summary of evidence over charges against General Fonseka made in compliance with provisions of the Army Act was completed and handed [...]

Trincomalee electoral candidates led by Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK) leader Mr. R. Sampanthan, Tuesday visited the camps in Ki’liveddi and Paddiththidal in Moothoor DS division where hundreds of internally displaced Tamil families from Champoor, Kooniththeevu, Choodaikkudaa and Navaratnapuram in the High Security Zones declared by the Sri Lanka Army after the eviction of [...]

Mar 10, Colombo: Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem will be provided with four police personnel for his security, the Attorney General’s Department informed the Supreme Court today.